Season guide · Palermo · Italy
Palermo in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Hot, sunny and humid, with sirocco heatwaves, beach life at Mondello and the Festino in July. Expect highs up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 3 rainy days across June–August. June is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 19°C (66°F) to 31°C (88°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 3
- Sea
- 23°C (73°F) to 27°C (81°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 28°C (82°F) | 19°C (66°F) | 1 | 14.8 h | 4/5 |
| July | 31°C (88°F) | 22°C (72°F) | 1 | 14.6 h | 5/5 |
| August | 31°C (88°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 | 13.6 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 30°C (86°F) against a yearly 23°C (73°F), and 3 of the year's roughly 65 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- July: Festino di Santa Rosalia — the saint's triumphal cart is pulled along the Cassaro, with fireworks (14–15 July)
- August: Ferragosto public holiday (15 August)
Make the most of the weather
Beach · Mondello
Mondello beach
Go on a weekday morning; on summer weekends half of Palermo heads to the beach and traffic jams build on the road from the city.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Free
- Iconic
Nature · Monte Pellegrino
Monte Pellegrino and the Sanctuary of Santa Rosalia
The 606-metre headland that Goethe praised as the most beautiful promontory in the world rises between the city and Mondello.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Nature
- Free
- Active
- History
Garden · Kalsa
Orto Botanico
Pair it with Villa Giulia, the 18th-century public garden next door, for a shady afternoon with children.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Religious site · Il Capo and the Cathedral
Palermo Cathedral
Palermo's cathedral is a patchwork of styles: Norman walls, a Gothic porch, Catalan details and a neoclassical dome added in the 18th century.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Religious site · Monreale
Monreale Cathedral and Cloister
Allow half a day including the bus ride from Piazza Indipendenza, and buy the tickets for the cloister and the roof as well as the nave.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Day trips in summer
- Segesta (About 1 hour by car or bus) — In open hill country, an unfinished 5th-century BC Doric temple stands almost intact, and a shuttle bus climbs Monte Barbaro to a Greek theatre with views towards the sea.
- Erice (About 1.5–2 hours by car, or bus and cable car) — A medieval hilltop town about 750 metres above Trapani, with cobbled lanes, Norman castle walls and almond pastries made from old convent recipes; views stretch over the salt pans to the Egadi Islands.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Palermo?
Yes: June is among the best months. Hot, sunny and humid, with sirocco heatwaves, beach life at Mondello and the Festino in July.
+What is the weather like in Palermo in summer?
Highs of up to 31°C (88°F) and lows around 19°C (66°F), with about 3 rainy days over the season.